For many Charlotte-area residents, the gift of employment would be the greatest gift of all this holiday season. The latest unemployment figures from the N.C. Department of Commerce show that the Charlotte metropolitan region’s unemployment rate continues to hover above 10 percent. Job training and employment programs offered through Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont are more critical than ever for local job seekers who have been searching for employment for months or even years.
Every donation makes a difference for local individuals who need employment. Ninety cents out of every dollar spent at one of Goodwillâs 20 local retail stores goes to help fund these important employment programs, which are offered free of charge to local job seekers.
âWhether they recognize it or not, Goodwill donors and shoppers are making an investment in our local community,â said Holly Cooper, director of marketing and communications for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. âThese supporters have made 2011 a better year for more than 15,000 individuals in our area who have taken advantage of job training, career services and other community-based Goodwill programs.â
Donated goods and financial contributions made by the end of the year are eligible for a 2011 tax deduction. Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each itemâs value.
Goodwillâs Donation Center attendants will provide all donors with a receipt for their tax records. If donors are unsure whether a particular item qualifies for a tax deduction, they should consider whether they would give it to a relative or friend. If the answer is yes, then the item is most likely in good condition and is appropriate to donate. For guidelines or to calculate the impact of a donation, click here.
